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Mentor Public Schools Cancel Classes Due to Bus Driver Shortage

News Summary

Mentor Public Schools have canceled classes following a severe shortage of bus drivers, affecting all students and staff in the district. Superintendent Craig Heath communicated the closure via social media, apologizing for the disruption. In response to the crisis, the district will implement new bus routes with public transportation services and recruit drivers, while hosting a ‘Drive the Bus’ event to attract potential candidates. The district aims to resolve these challenges to ensure reliable transportation for students moving forward.

Mentor, Ohio – Mentor Public Schools made the difficult decision to cancel classes on September 30 due to an acute shortage of bus drivers. The district reported that a significant number of absences in the transportation department rendered them unable to cover the essential bus routes that service students across the area.

The closure impacted all students and staff within the district. Superintendent Craig Heath communicated the decision via a Facebook post, expressing regret for the disruption it caused to families and the community.

To address the ongoing transportation challenges, the district has announced proactive measures to better manage future staffing shortages. Beginning Monday, Laketran, the public transportation service, will operate two bus routes specifically for Mentor Schools. District bus aides will accompany these new routes to ensure that students are safely transported. Families affected by the route changes have been notified through phone calls and follow-up emails detailing the adjustments.

In light of the recent cancellation, Mentor Public Schools reported receiving numerous applications for bus driver positions, which are currently under review. The district has emphasized its commitment to ongoing recruitment efforts, encouraging interested applicants to access the application process via the district’s website.

Furthermore, Mentor Schools is hosting a “Drive the Bus” event on November 1, from 10 a.m. to noon at Mentor High School. This event aims to allow potential drivers to gain hands-on experience behind the wheel of a school bus while learning more about the role of a bus driver. This initiative is part of the district’s strategy to build a more dependable transportation system moving forward.

Superintendent Heath has highlighted the essential goal of fully staffing the transportation department to enhance service quality for students who rely on school transportation. On the day of the closure, the transportation department indicated that it had a total of 48 bus routes to cover daily. Each route often has multiple runs to accommodate various education levels as well as special needs transportation, which further complicates their situation.

Prior to the closure, the transportation department was already down two full-time drivers and had four drivers out on extended leave. On the morning of the cancellation, an additional five drivers were absent, resulting in nine drivers needing to be covered for 29 routes. Projections indicated the need for coverage for 41 routes in the afternoon, underscoring the enormity of the staffing shortage.

The district made the decision to close schools after considerable deliberation, recognizing the significant impact it would have on families. The administration reiterated its commitment to tackling staffing challenges head-on while also thanking families for their patience and understanding during this period of disruption.

In summary, Mentor Public Schools is actively working to address the transportation staffing issues that led to the recent school closures. With new partnerships and recruitment initiatives underway, the district is dedicated to ensuring a reliable transportation service for its students in the future.

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